Nova Patents
US7908458B2

Ethernet controller

Summary by NHIP

Multi-scheme Ethernet Controller

The controller uses a register address unit to access registers via direct, combined, or predetermined addressing schemes. A single bank register stores a bank address for combined addressing, while an address register couples with a multiplexer receiving direct, combined, and predetermined addresses.

Claim Score by NHIP

Read claim 11, the broadest

Abstract

A controller, in particular an Ethernet controller has a control unit operable to receive commands and data through an I/O interface; a plurality of registers arranged in a register block which is divided into a plurality of register banks, wherein at least one register controls a function of the controller; a register address unit having logic for accessing one of the plurality of registers by a plurality of addressing schemes, wherein the addressing schemes at least has a direct address provided by received data, a combined address provided by a partial address from a received command and a bank address stored in a bank register, and an address selected form a plurality of predetermined addresses through a received command.

US7908458B2, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 5

Term

Projected expiry 6 September 2029.

  1. Priority and filed
  2. Granted
  3. Today
  4. Projected expiry

25 claims: 3 independent, 22 dependent

  1. 1
    A controller comprising:a control unit operable to receive commands and data through an I/O interface, wherein the commands comprise an instruction to read or write data from or to an internal register block of said controller;a plurality of registers arranged in the register block which is divided into a plurality of register banks, wherein at least one register controls a function of the controller;a register address unit comprising logic for accessing one of the plurality of registers by a plurality of addressing schemes, wherein the addressing schemes at least comprise a direct address provided by received data, a combined address provided by a partial address from a received command and a bank address stored in a bank register, and an address selected form a plurality of predetermined addresses through a received command.
  2. 11
    Broadest claimClaim Score 68, broad(NHIP)A method of controlling the operation of a controller comprising a register bank with a plurality of registers, the method comprising the steps of:receiving a command through an I/O interface;decoding the command and depending on the command determining an address by either receiving a direct address through the I/O interface, extracting a partial address from the command or selecting an address from a plurality of predetermined addresses through the command;in case of extracting a partial address, combining the partial address with a bank address stored in a bank register;addressing the register bank using the address for read or write access.
  3. 23
    An Ethernet controller comprising:a control unit operable to receive commands and data through a SPI interface;a plurality of registers arranged in a register block which is divided into a plurality of register banks, wherein at least one register controls the operation of the controller;register address unit comprising logic for accessing one of the plurality of registers by a plurality of addressing schemes, wherein the addressing schemes at least comprise a direct address provided by received data, combined address provided by a partial address from a received command and a bank address stored in a bank register, and selecting an address form a plurality of predetermined addresses through a received command, wherein the bank register is a single register with a single address in the register block.